A recent article by New York Times reporter Ishani Desai paid tribute to the life and work of Mona Khalil, the renowned conservationist and founder of the Orange House in Mansouri, South Lebanon, who passed away after being injured in an Israeli airstrike on 4 June 2026.
The article traces Khalil’s extraordinary journey from discovering nesting sea turtles along the shores of Mansouri in the 1990s to dedicating the remainder of her life to protecting one of Lebanon’s most important marine habitats. Her efforts helped safeguard the Hima Qoleileh–Mansouri coastal stretch, a seven-kilometre sandy and rocky shoreline that hosts more than 58 endangered sea turtle nests annually.
Through decades of tireless work, Khalil built a powerful network of local communities, youth groups, volunteers, municipalities, and environmental advocates committed to protecting biodiversity while promoting sustainable local development. Despite repeated conflicts and wars in South Lebanon, she remained steadfast in her mission to conserve endangered loggerhead and green sea turtles and to inspire future generations of environmental stewards.
The New York Times highlighted the tribute paid by Assad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), who reflected on Khalil’s unique place within Lebanon’s conservation movement:
“There are people who work for conservation, and there are people who become conservation itself. Mona Khalil was one of those rare individuals whose life, spirit, and daily existence became inseparable from the cause she dedicated herself to.”
Serhal’s words capture the essence of Khalil’s legacy. For more than two decades, she was not simply an advocate for nature; she embodied the values of the Hima approach through her commitment to community engagement, environmental protection, and resilience under the most difficult circumstances.
Mona Khalil’s contribution to the establishment and strengthening of Hima Qoleileh–Mansouri stands as a lasting testament to the power of grassroots conservation. Her dedication helped transform a vulnerable stretch of coastline into one of Lebanon’s most successful examples of community-based conservation, earning national and international recognition.
SPNL joins conservationists, local communities, and environmental partners in honoring Mona Khalil’s remarkable life and enduring legacy. Her work will continue to inspire Homat Al Hima and all those committed to protecting Lebanon’s natural heritage for generations to come.
